Teng Margaret, Tang Si Ying, Koh Calvin Jianyi
Gastroenterology and Hepatology, National University Hospital, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, National University Health System, Singapore 119074, Singapore.
World J Gastrointest Endosc. 2020 Sep 16;12(9):256-265. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v12.i9.256.
The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which has affected more than 4.5 million people in 213 countries, and has been declared a pandemic by World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. The transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has been reported to occur primarily through direct contact or droplets. There have also been reports that SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in biopsy and stool specimens, and it has been postulated that there is potential for fecal-oral transmission as well. Gastrointestinal symptoms have been reported in 17.6% of COVID-19 patients and transmission can potentially occur through gastrointestinal secretions in this group of patients. Furthermore, transmission can also occur in asymptomatic carriers or patients with viral shedding during the incubation period. Endoscopic procedures hence may pose significant risks of transmission (even for those not directly involving confirmed COVID-19 cases) as endoscopists and endoscopy staff are in close contact with patients during these aerosol generating procedures. This could result in inadvertent transmission of infection at time of endoscopy.
新型严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）引发了2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19），该病已在213个国家感染了超过450万人，并于2020年3月11日被世界卫生组织宣布为大流行病。据报道，SARS-CoV-2主要通过直接接触或飞沫传播。也有报道称，在活检和粪便标本中可检测到SARS-CoV-2，据推测也存在粪口传播的可能性。17.6%的COVID-19患者报告有胃肠道症状，在这组患者中，传播可能通过胃肠道分泌物发生。此外，传播也可能发生在无症状携带者或潜伏期有病毒脱落的患者中。因此，内镜检查可能带来重大传播风险（即使对于那些未直接涉及确诊COVID-19病例者），因为内镜医师和内镜检查工作人员在这些产生气溶胶的操作过程中与患者密切接触。这可能在内镜检查时导致感染的意外传播。
